Electricity industry training - lighting a bright career path

Photo caption: Horizon Trainee Paraone Muru's career is a result of the EBET Taster Course. Photo by James Stanbridge.

When he agreed to help out at this week’s Eastern Bay Careers Expo, Horizon Energy apprentice Paraone Muru didn’t expect to be put in front of a camera, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better ‘face’ for the future of the electricity supply industries.

The former Trident High School deputy head boy and representative sportsman has taken full advantage of the opportunities presented by the Eastern Bay Energy Trust’s major focus on industry awareness and training, and is well on his way to a career as a supply industry electrician.

In 2015, as a Year 13 student, Paraone successfully applied to be part of the annual Taster Course, delivered by the Trust in conjunction with industry training organisation, Connexis. Through that he formed a definite career direction and went on to secure a position and apprenticeship with Horizon Energy.

“I’d done a bit of work experience and thought I might be interested in being an electrician, but I had no idea that the industry was so extensive. The Taster Course showed us everything from generation to network systems and the supply industry – basically the whole process, from where the energy comes from, to how it gets to the customer. I’d say ‘give it a good go’ to anyone thinking about applying for the Taster Course.”

Connexis Customer Service Account Manager Natalie Simmons was at the Careers Expo to provide information about training within the electricity sector and to ensure students were aware of the next Taster Course to be held in the Term 3 holidays, at Tarawera High School.

“Applicants are called from Years 12 and 13, must be at least 16-years-old at the start of the course, and have a minimum of NCEA Level 1 with good literacy and numeracy skills and an interest in science and technology,” Ms Simmons says.

She says another definite advantage is a great attitude. “Employers tell me again and again that they look for employees with a great attitude to work and safety – and we look for that in Taster Course applicants too.”

The 8-day course sees trainees stay on the school’s marae, while taking part in daytime learning programmes, interspersed with outdoor team-building exercises and visits to electricity generation sites, power companies, large-scale manufacturing facilities and Hamilton’s Wintec.

Taster Course application details will be available on the Eastern Bay Energy Trust website from 29th May and must be completed by 9th August.

Eastern Bay Energy Trust Manager Rawinia Kamau says the Taster Course, together with the Trust’s apprenticeship and scholarship programmes, is an investment in the sustainability of the electricity supply workforce. “A few years ago, the Trust recognised a serious shortage of young people coming into the sector. Its response was to establish education and training programmes, to assist in building career pathways, ensuring that there is a solid workforce available to fill industry opportunities within the local area.”

In the current financial year, the Trust’s Education and Training grant pool has $240,000 to provide opportunities for energy education, including energy efficiency and safety in schools.

Applications for the Trust’s Scholarship programme, which supports pre-trade, diploma and degree courses for study within energy-related fields, open late October. Full details of the Scholarship Programme are listed on www.ebet.org.nz